In one week's time, the Village Stroll will be decked out in red and white for the Resort Municipality of Whistler's (RMOW) Canada Day celebrations.
On top of celebrating our country, this year's festivities will also be a time to reflect on all of Canada's history, including its relationship with Indigenous Peoples, according to an RMOW release.
“On July 1, Whistler will celebrate what makes us love this place so much. We are a diverse community made up of people who have called this place home since time immemorial, people who come for a season to work and play, and everyone in between,” said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton in the release. “It is my hope that both our locals and our visitors will engage in thoughtful celebration on July 1. The RMOW programming and experiences presented by Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) are designed to deepen awareness of our personal histories, and the history of this region, while presenting opportunities to reflect on our values and move forward on the road to reconciliation.”
One of the highlights from the town's Canada Day programming includes a Community Reconciliation Canoe, where people will be invited to join an immersive canoe carving experience as part of the Summer Salish Carving Series, led by master carver Ray Natraoro. Participants will be able to thoughtfully carve the old, fallen cedar or sign one of the six paddles, according to the release.
And as a commitment towards reconciliation, cedar shavings can be taken to "return the wood, imbued with intention" to a special place in honour of the Indigenous connection to the land.
Some of the RMOW's other programming for the day includes a free yoga class for all levels at Mountain Square from 8 to 9 a.m., the Pique Pedal, Show and Shine at Olympic Plaza from 10 to 11 a.m., a pancake breakfast at Olympic Plaza from 9 to 11 a.m. organized by the Rotary Club of Whistler with proceeds going towards rebuilding Lytton's swimming pool facilities, and the People's Parade throughout the Village Stroll from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"This summer Whistler will introduce a new way to parade ... Instead of observing the parade as it winds through the village, locals and visitors can explore fun and engaging stations set up along the Village Stroll at their own pace," read the release. "The People’s Parade will include a large paint-by-numbers mural at Town Plaza Gazebo, roving characters, a bubble zone, live music, and artists."
The evening will be capped off with a live set by DJ Whitness at 6:30 p.m. followed by a performance by the Sam Roberts Band as part of the Whistler Summer Concert Series, which offers 12 free performances over the summer.
Full programming details are available at whistler.ca/CanadaDay.
From National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 through July 3, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) will also be offering free admission for all guests. Among the events happening at the SLCC will be songs performed by the Spo7ez Performance team, guided tours of the Interpretive Forest Walk of the Salish Forest and a tour of the new exhibition—Ancient Medicine.
